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1.06.2012

Five for Friday {The It's Good to Have Goals Edition}

So I decided I should document a few of my goals for twenty-twelve after all.

Even though they are basically the same ones I carry over year after year.

I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing.

1. In the health & fitness category I'm committing to the following (again):

* eat cleaner, limit processed & fast foods

* eat less meat & dairy, eat more fruit & veggies

* limit refined sugars (ha!)

* exercise regularly, like 4-5 days a week, daily would be best, including home cardio/strength DVD workouts (TurboFire, ChaLEAN Extreme & eventually P90X) & running

* track my calories

I've had the My Fitness Pal app on my phone forever and only recently started using it (sporadically at first during the holidays and now more diligently). I like the satisfaction of seeing my daily intake (it's already made me more aware of certain choices and make different ones) and know I'm at or under my daily goal. I'm not sure if the calories burned are truly as high as it says, but they're probably in range, and it's nice to have that little buffer on the days I exercise (although I guess the wise thing would be not to eat back the calories you burned, right?).

2. On the spiritual side:

* follow a daily bible reading plan that allows you to read the entire bible in a year.

I did do this last year but there were gaps for sure. I hope to fill in the gaps this year.

* recommit to memorizing scripture.

* grow in gratitude by noticing and documenting the gifts from God that surround me.

I've started reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, ever so slowly to let her wonderful words soak in. She has a free iPhone app to help you record your gifts through photos and text that, once again, I've had on my phone for a while but only started using yesterday.

3. On the creative side:

* improve my photography skills

I think the best way to grow and improve my photography is by taking more pictures and practicing different techniques, especially with my DSLR. I find myself using my iPhone more and more for photos, since it's so handy and easy (and I almost always have it with me), but I also use my big dog camera almost every day too (I leave it out on the counter in the kitchen so it's ready to grab).

To help me practice and take more photos I've been following this challenge on InstaGram.

And I've been keeping track of my photos with this Project 365 app on my iPhone (I think it was free).

So far it's been lots of fun (especially since there's been a theme for every day) and easy to do with my phone (both the taking and the storing). I'd also like to do a Project 365 (or 366 since this is Leap Year) with my DSLR but have only taken three photos for that so far (I hate being behind!) and can't decide the best way to document/track my progress yet (on the blog as a weekly collage? just in iPhoto?).

4. Work on being a better spouse, mom, friend in general. This last one is huge, and the most difficult to elaborate on for some reason (ha!). Let's just say there is always room for improvement. You know what I mean, Vern?

5. That last one was so huge (yet still rather vague) that I don't really have a #5. Oh wait, I just remembered. I do. Be a better blogger. One of the best things about blogging is the feeling of connection, that someone out there hears you and *gets* you. I miss that. I must admit I've gotten very, very lazy with leaving comments on other blogs. I always tell myself I'll go back later to comment, but I don't. I'm a faithful reader of lots of blogs, and think about lots of my bloggy friends, but I haven't been taking the time to comment and tell them. I guess that's selfish too. I don't think it's necessary to leave a comment on every single post you read because that would be almost impossible but I want to make a better effort to leave a comment more often, even if it's a quickie. I need to be better at replying to comments on my blog as well, either through email or in the comments.

I feel like that last paragraph is as clear as mud and not really what I mean. Ugh. Do y'all get me? I hope so.

I'm very immature and still resisting counting my calories. I just don't want to face that cold, hard reality.

I totally understand your thoughts on being a better blogger. I have been reading more on my phone, and commenting is just more tedious, so I don't do it enough. And I definitely need to interact with my readers!

I want a DSLR. But I won't be getting one anytime soon. We need to get out of debt. We are buying a new fancy TV after tax return. And it appears that 9 years of home ownership is when the little things start needing attention.

I just read your year of Wonders post from '07 (this post had a "you might also like" directing me to it. I randomly pulled that book off the library shelf and read it last month. Slow but good! Luci has now claimed it and is doing a book report on it. Not really 5th grade material but she read the whole thing and is very enthusiastic about it.

Anyway... the 365 day photo app thing is COOL. Unfortunately I have a Blackberry from 2008 that does absolutely nothing cool. Sigh.

I just read your year of Wonders post from '07 (this post had a "you might also like" directing me to it. I randomly pulled that book off the library shelf and read it last month. Slow but good! Luci has now claimed it and is doing a book report on it. Not really 5th grade material but she read the whole thing and is very enthusiastic about it.

Anyway... the 365 day photo app thing is COOL. Unfortunately I have a Blackberry from 2008 that does absolutely nothing cool. Sigh.

I just read The Primal Blueprint - about eating and exercise - and you might like it and get some good info from it. It's about what bad carbs and sugar does to our bodies and talks about getting good results with minimal exercise. The author claims weight control and health is 80% what we eat and only 20% exercise. I agree....I am on the Blueprint plan starting Monday. I'll let you know how it goes.

Those apps are so much fun and you took the words right out of my mouth regarding some of your goals for this year. Your blog and your pictures always make me smile so I look forward to seeing your posts!